Ants Marching

"Ants Marching"
Single by Dave Matthews Band
from the album Under the Table and Dreaming
Released	September 1995
Format	CD single
Recorded	Bearsville Studios, Bearsville, NY, August 1995
Genre	Folk rock, jazz fusion, bluegrass
Length	4:31
Label	Bama Rags Records
Writer(s)	David J. Matthews
Dave Matthews Band singles chronology
"Typical Situation" (1994) "Ants Marching" (1995) "Satellite" (1995)
Audio sample file info · help

"Ants Marching" is a song by American rock group Dave Matthews Band. It was released in September 1995 as the second single from their debut album Under the Table and Dreaming. It reached #18 on the Alternative chart and on the mainstream rock chart as well.^[1][2] The song was considered a successful, hit single.^[3][4] A different recording of it was included on their prior album, Remember Two Things. This version was significantly longer, clocking in at 6:08.^[5] According to DMBAlmanac.com, the song is possibly one of DMB's best known songs, and Dave Matthews described it as being "our anthem." Dave Mathews wrote the music and lyrics prior to its first performance in 1991.^[6]

Content

The song is centered on the idea that people get caught up in the monotony of their everyday lives and forget to focus on what is truly important. The metaphor used is that people are like marching ants in the line, "All the little ants are marching, red and black antennae waving, they all do it the same, they all do it the same way." The title of Under the Table and Dreaming is derived from the verse:

Goes to visit his mommy
She feeds him well - his concerns, he forgets them
And remembers being small
Playing under the table and dreaming.

Track listings

U.S. CD single

1. "Ants Marching" (Album Version) – 4:31
2. "Ants Marching" (Live Version) – 4:45
3. "Ants Marching" (Live Acoustic Version) – 4:19

Australia CD single 1

1. "Ants Marching" (Album Version) – 4:31
2. "Ants Marching" (Live Version) – 4:45
3. "Ants Marching" (Live Acoustic Version) – 4:19
4. "All Along the Watchtower" – 7:04

Australia CD single 2

1. "Ants Marching" (Album Version) – 4:31
2. "What Would You Say" – 3:41
3. "Typical Situation" (Edit) – 3:57
4. "Ants Marching" (Live Version) – 4:45

Charts

Chart (1995)	Peak position
US Billboard Pop Songs[1]	19
US Billboard Alternative Songs[1]	18
US Billboard Adult Pop Songs[1]	22
US Billboard Adult Contemporary[1]	25

Covers

The Piano Guys recorded a cover of the song as a mash-up with Beethoven's Ode to Joy, released on their album 'Wonders' on 25 August 2014.

References

1. "Dave Matthews > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved April 1, 2012.
2. "Billboard Chart Search". 'Billboard.com'. December 2014.
3. http://www.allmusic.com/album/under-the-table-and-dreaming-mw0000626312
4. http://www.billboard.com/artist/300379/dave-matthews-band/biography
5. http://www.allmusic.com/album/remember-two-things-mw0000115676
6. http://dmbalmanac.com/SongStats.aspx?sid=17